YSC cares about its Co-Survivors, and we want you to know about the support and resources that are available to you. Each month, we’ll be sending you a few inspirational tidbits while also making you aware of what is right at your fingertips.
But first: what is a Co-Survivor? YSC Co-Survivors are partners/spouses, parents, adult children, adult siblings and friends (adult meaning 18 years of age or older) of young women diagnosed with breast cancer. While many young survivors also provide support to their friends, this is not for those who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.
This month, it’s all about getting cozy, or, as the New York Times called it The Year of Hygge, the Danish Obsession with Getting Cozy. It’s pronounced “hoo-guh” which is just kind of fun to say. Think about comforting, nourishing things you love. What does this look like to you? Cushiony slippers? Wood fires? Hot chocolate?
September hosts the Fall Equinox which historically has meaning around slowing down and turning inward. We view bursts of gorgeous color as leaves change and then fall. The air becomes crisp while the blue of the sky becomes crystal clear. Different traditions surface for different cultures. What does slowing down and turning inward mean for you? Enjoying a good book under a fleece blanket? The meditative practice of preparing an especially delicious soup? A favorite sweater?
The direction of hoo-guh and slowing down points us to self-care. It is always right and good to take of yourself.
YSC resources
“The Art of Communication”: talk by co-survivor Craig McRobbie, YSC Symposium 2015
“Mindful Caregiving for Breast Cancer Co-Survivors”: talk by Cassandra Palmer, YSC Summit 2017
Journaling for Better Health by Jean Rowe
Want to connect with others? Comment below, and we’ll take care of you.
